Most of the time when you come here every day (at least I hope you come here every day!), I show you pretty pictures. Pictures I have so delicately positioned and placed. Food that I spend time thinking about what would look nice in a photo, what background colors would make the dish pop, and what other kinds of “props” would do the picture justice.
Sometimes, I end up with pictures like this.
heavy on the broccoli pasta salad
What you didn’t see was this….
Yes, that would be a plastic bag in the bottom of my pasta salad bowl. With that plastic bag, I didn’t have to put as much pasta salad in the bowl, and it gave the food a “plumped up” look. As a reader, you get to see the finished product. The end result. The beautifully edited photos that actually make the blog.
What you don’t get to see is a “behind the scenes” look at what my “photo shoots” actually look like. It’s not all glamour around here folks. Most of the time, I am dressed in my pajamas (we’re talking gym shorts and an oversized t-shirt here) with my hair looking like a rat’s nest on top of my head, and no makeup with my camera swinging around my neck. Be thankful you are not my next door neighbor. They’ve seen me climb on top of my picnic table one too many times just so I can “get the shot”. They have never asked any questions, so I have never provided any answers. However, I am sure I am the “crazy neighbor” who takes pictures of her food at 7 in the morning. Whatever, I’m over it.
The end result:
Blogging behind the scenes:
I am almost ashamed to show you this picture. My bed is unmade, I made a pseudo photo studio on my nightstand where it was covered with a towel and had a white pillowcase as my so called “light bounce”. Not to mention I had a trusty assistant nearby…
The end result:
Most of the time when I am making a creation that makes it to the blog, my kitchen is a disaster zone. There are ingredients that have fallen on the floor, I have flour in my hair, and my sink is overflowing with dishes that have to be hand washed (until I get that dishwasher I’ve always dreamed of…).
It’s not pretty.
While none of this was very attractive, you should be happy I didn’t give you a behind the scenes look of me in the morning. Now that is scary.
No question — just have a fantastic day and remember to smile!
{ 87 comments… read them below or add one }
Love your behind the scenes look! Seeing as though I do a lot of the same things (just without the nearly as pretty pictures as you have) I can totally appreciate all of the pseudo studios and disaster zone kitchens.
Btw, love the idea of putting the bag at the bottom of the bowl. Genius!
You totally have pretty pictures - are you kidding me!?!?
Haha, awww thank you! I guess they’re not too bad…definitely a step up from what I was posting last year at this time I suppose, lol..
I’m still waiting for my “big girl” camera
I agree, behind the scenes can be a little scary! and at times, frustrating, but the end result is pure happiness and contentment!
I love knowing that it takes work for you to take such amazing photographs… that it’s not just that easy!
It’s definitely not easy! I am obviously self learned, but am a work in progress!
Thanks for being real about how you get the awesome photos on the blog! Sometimes it is intimidating to see such gorgeous pictures in the blog world, but knowing everyone is going through the same thing to get the shots makes it all better
I hope YOU have a fantastic day!!!
It takes practice, that’s for sure! No one can get a “perfect shot” right away!
Haha, I’ve been thinking about a post like this too! It’s incredible how much work goes into making things look awesome! I actually checked out a book from the library about food photography, and the thing was the size of a pizza box (well….almost. But still HUGENORMOUS). There were some crazy awesome tips about how professionals get prepped food all the way to the final shot!
I’ve actually been using FoodGawker to study some shots before I do shoots to see some examples! It’s been working out really well.
Ha, hilarious and excellent post!! As someone who knows very little about photography (but would love nicer pictures…. someday) this was both educational AND didn’t make me feel like a tool (i.e. it’s totally possible to achieve great pictures!! Even if your bed… is not made.)
Thanks for “keeping it real”, if you will.
Believe me, I know very little about photography as well!
First of all, thank you for the reminder to smile today
And this is such a fun post! I learned so much about photography from this, I didn’t realize all that goes into it!
Love this post because I can relate so much! My neighbors think I’m crazy without a doubt. I’m always out on my deck in my sports bra and workout shorts jumping around and bending awkwardly (sometimes lying on my belly) on the deck to get the good shots. And my kitchen always has flour, sauces and trash scattered everywhere when I’m doing food photos shoots, too!
I have been tempted in restaurants to move towards the front because of the natural light! HAHA it’s funny the things we must do to get a quality picture! Thanks for sharing.
Oh I have definitely requested a “window seat” before!
Hehe I love getting a glimpse into what goes on behind the scenes of other bloggers. I’m the same way… the whole room will be a disaster zone, save for one tiny little spot where my food is sitting in the perfect light. I can only imagine what people would think if they saw me. Then again, the amount of work that goes into food photography is just crazy…
So this is why my pictures are all crap, huh?
like!
HAHA love this!! And ohmygosh your photos are so beautiful!! Seriously how do you come up with these cool ideas?! I love the cookie photo specially
Oh, and your new blog looks AMAZING!! I love it SO much!!
P.S. I MISSED reading your bloggie when I was away, and I’m catching up now yaaay!!
P.P.S. You were kinda right- I WAS on a music tour, but straight after I came back from that I went on a family vacation
<3
Yay! I knew I read that right! Anyways, it looks like your family vacay was AWESOME!
Aweeee you too sista friend!!! Don’t worry my photo shoots are nasty nast too. Except the pictures aren’t always beautiful cause they tend to happen at night. Didn’t you hear, I’m nocturnal!
LOL. It is so funny what food loggers will do to get the perfect picture. My food is usually cold by the time I finally get to eat. And my daughter thinks it is funny to try and ruin my pics. I usually have to crop out barbie, Scooby Doo action figures, and her hands out of most of my pictures.
My food is usually pretty cold too. Nothing a little warming in the microwave won’t fix!
It all pays off, it is amazing! ….I do appreciate seeing this (more than you’ll know!), it is nice to know that it takes work for you….
Thanks for making us smile today
Thank YOU for making me smile! It does take work! Anyone who says it’s “easy” is lying - unless they are absolutely awesome. Which I’m not.
I love seeing the “behind the scenes” stuff! I’m still figuring out hot to make my photos look better, so it’s nice to know that sometimes what it takes to get the “perfect shot” is a little creativity!
I love your honesty! My pictures aren’t amazing, but it’s never glamourous in my kitchen either! I look like a major bum 95% of the time.
This is so funny because just the other day I was making dinner (spaghetti squash, cottage cheese, marinara and a cut up veggie burger) and my husband said, “Why doesn’t your food ever look like the stuff on all the blogs you read?” He reads over my shoulder sometimes and sees these gorgeous photos of food and then looks at my barf bowl and can’t figure it out.
I’ll have to show him this post.
ahahaha - that is hilarious! I love it!
I appreciate the honesty
this is great!
I for one take pictures with my iPhone since it actually takes picture better than my camera, so I think even your behind the scenes are way better than mine:) Hope you have a great day, too!
Your pictures do look great!
Another great post!! I love it!! My favorite picture is the one with your dog! Thanks for making me smile have a wonderful day!!
I love this and can totally relate. My living room (we don’t use it) has turned into the disaster zone of placemats, light bouncing boards and step stools just to get “the shot.”
PS- I have that Ikea lamp too. I feel like I see that thing everywhere!
I have had the Ikea lamp forever and want a more “grown up one”!
I, too, am the crazy picture-taking neighbor who goes outside at odd hours, with food in hand, camera around my neck, and takes photo upon photo. What must our neighbors think?!
I love this post. Great job Chelsey, you are much better at figuring out how to take good shots than I am! I get easily frustrated and end up putting pictures I’m not 100% proud of most of the time. But I’m working on it! Thanks for the ideas.
Love this! Its so true! so much goes on behind the scenes that no one really knows about!
Love this! It makes me feel much better about my photos - I know it isn’t effortless now
love your blatant honesty! Mix this post, with yesterday’s picture and you’ve made me smile alot!!
haha the guy who was “not” sweating the small stuff? I love that picture.
LOL - i love the part about the rat’s nest. You aren’t alone, girl!
What kind of camera do you use? Your pics are fabulous.
Alysha
Such a fun post! Really cool to see.
Haha this was so fun to read! Sometimes I think my neighbours think I’m crazy too. I’m always running out to my back deck to snap pictures.
I love your photo “station” by the window! I had something set up like that in my dining room but my mom always makes me put it away. It got to be too much work, so now I just stick to taking pictures outside.
I love this! It makes me feel much better about my pictures.
Love this post! We appreciate the crazy looks from your neighbors, dirty dishes, crazy behind the scenes for those beautiful pictures!
I love the behind the scenes post lol. What kind of camera do you use/recommend? I just started blogging and want to get some pictures up but right now I’m in the market for a new digital camera, and a new computer lol.
I got a Rebel Canon EOS for Christmas. She’s my baby.
Awesome, thank you!
no wonder my pictures stink!
that’s crazy about the bag at the bottom - would never have guessed!
um, I love this. and your pictures always DO look so pretty! I need to add some baggie-plumpage in my life.
Loved this post Chelsey! It’s fun to see the behind the scenes. I need to do a better job of setting up a photo area in my house and you’ve inspired me to do that.
Your dish pile reminded me of mine! I was cursing the fact that we don’t have a dishwasher last night and I dream of the day when I can just throw dishes in and let the machine do the work.
If you think your neighbors think your crazy, my roommate must think I’m a nut! She’s supportive…she doesn’t mind the “studios” I set up. But I’m nervous about when #3 moves in!
I love love posts like this! I’m a terrible photographer and just whip out the camera and wing it..sometimes I get lucky, 99% of the time I don’t! But I really admire you - I didn’t realise how much work you put into your shots!
It pays off, your blog is beautiful
Me too!! I’m hoping for a new camera for my birthday and hopefully the rough pictures will be a thing of the past!
Thanks lady!
The bag at the bottom of the bowl is such a sneaky trick! I love it!
Taking pictures for the blog can be so time consuming but I love it! My problem is I don’t get much light and at night it’s like a batcave. Aparently my landlord thought making the apartment’s “green” meant not installing any overhead lights. Yup. None. So I usually look like a monkey, climbing on counters to try to get just a little bit of light at night hahaha! I love your photo’s though so whatever you’re doing is working!
my indoor lighting is absolutely horrendous!!
I need to start doing this. I also need a real camera. The unedited pics are what my blog looks like hah! Beautiful pictures!
Oh, the things we do for that perfect shot
it pays off! your photos are stunning and i can tell you are dedicated to making everything look spot-on.
I loved this post! I am the same way as you. It was so fun to see your behind the scenes.
I love this post and can totally relate. My kitchen sink often looks like that after baking or cooking up something for my blog.
I love getting an idea of how you actually take pictures! Since I’m pretty new to all of this, I’ve been wondering how people get pictures that look so pretty and mine look so…well, they look kind of boring haha. Oh well, it’s a work in progress. Hope you’re having an awesome day!
Hey! I couldn’t find your email address, but wanted to see if you’d be interested in a guest post for my blog?! Send me an email!
Thanks for this awesome post! I’m so glad to know I’m not the only one who feels crazy when taking blog pictures.
What kind of camera do you use??
Canon Rebel EOS!
Loved this, it is soooooo true! The rooms in my house are always a mess during photo time! I love the new look of the blog! Great job!
I totally feel you on the “in pajamas, hair in rat nest” photo shoots.
They’re not exactly what Tyra Banks would call “high fashion.”
Random question: are you at the PLC conference in Lincolnshire right now? I swear I saw you - or your identical twin - today and thought that maybe, just maybe, it could actually be you!
OH MY GOSH! Yes, I am! haha!
Girl thank you for posting this post!!!
you used the bulk up the bottom of the bowl/false bottom technique
In this post with the noodles, there is a huge pile of mashed potatoes underneath the noodleshttp://www.loveveggiesandyoga.com/2011/04/real-food-styling-photography-workshop.html
and the burger is pinned down with a thumb-tack onto the bread
I would never go to those lengths in my own house, but on set, yes, I do
Same as at Food & Light, there were a few tricks employed to get the right shots!
I knew I could count on you to share a few more tracks of the trade!
HAHAHA…love this post! I drive my family crazy with my food photography. At dinner, I steal their food so I can take a snapshot. But it’s not a quick process. I have to make sure the light is right, the props are right, the angles are right……
What lens do you use? I’ve been using my 50mm/1.8 and it seems to work great. However, I always like to know what other people use!
Great post!! I love the behind the scene look!
I love to make a huge mess in the kitchen!!! The problem is cleaning it up afterwards. Your photos are beautiful!!!
Love this post!!!
I’m still learning as I go. It’s funny to explain to non-blogging friends why I have a placemat only at one place on the table and a sheet on the chair and a card table in the living room with fabric and a knife and fork.
I love the behind the scenes because it’s a great reminder we all have the mess as we prep.
I just hope the rams at least make the playoffs this year. At least we got enough receivers. pettis salas walker
My kitchen sink frequently looks like that too! We have to hand wash our dishes too….boo. Thanks for showing us the behind the scenes. I’m just getting into this so it’s fun to learn some tricks!
love this
my kitchen is always a mess!
Very interesting, I had no idea!
So I’m a day late on this post, but I couldn’t stop giggling when I read it. I absolutely love it! You’re hilarious and I love how you tipped the lamp over on your bed to get good lighting
hahahaha!
Loved this! I love food photography and recently bought a D5000 AND started my own food blog. I’ll be sure to link to you because I think your blog is great and your photos are awesome!
love seeing behind the scenes!! we have always wanted to do a post like that but have yet to get around to it haha
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